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Runes F A Q1s
Runes
Frequently asked questions
Evil Runes
 As a youngster I
remember watching a British movie classic called the Night of the Demon!
This was a horror picture based on a story by that master of understated
horror, M.R. James. James' story Casting The Runes concerns a
mild-mannered man who incurs the wrath of a magician and is passed a
slip of paper with runic symbols. If these are destroyed, or are still
on his person seven days later, he will die. The crux of the story is
the man's gradual realisation that these things are true, and that he
must return the runes to the magician to prevent his own death.
Night of the Demon -
1957 B&W Horror
This particular brand
of modern esoteric rune magic has the idea of the
yfelrun: this is a usually a letter which when
opened is revealed to be a runic talisman devoted to cursing the victim.
Ref: The Grimoire of
We-Aze
As I see it there are
about three main reasons why runes were considered to be evil. Unable to
read or understand the Runes, Christian Clergymen believed them to be
magic spells capable of unlocking the powers of evil. Since this time
Runes have developed a bad reputation, and are often linked to the
Occult and including Satanism. German 19th century Nationalism and anti
Semitism paved the way for the Nazis in 1930, who employed the Runes
amongst other heathen sigils within their military insignia and
propaganda, furthering to promote the sinister reputation of the Runes.
So runes became associated Nazism. Lastly the New Age renaissance added
a whole load of misinformation based loosely on whatever the authors
point of view or personal gnosis was at the time to create a whole new
tradition, based on magical power, hexes and lore far removed from the
actual usage and purpose of these holy symbols.
Which is the most powerful or
dangerous rune?
There is no single
rune any more powerful or dangerous then the next rune. Runes
represent ideas, are possible doorways to unlock certain thoughts or
perhaps even a catalyst in aiding a set of circumstances coming into
being. Their ability to serve as an oracle is entirely dependant on the
reader's interpretation and ability as well as the system used to divine
with. No singular rune is any more potent then the next rune nor does
the modern idea of "power" factually represent them. This most powerful
rune urban legend is pure personal gnosis spread by seriously
misinformed new age rune authors who should know better! Consider that
no two people are the same, think the same way or indeed can harness,
understand runes or even interpret the same way. This is without
involving any magic. Outside personal gnosis, I would like to know how
any particular rune is any more effective or powerful then the next
rune.
Celtic Runes?
Celtic runes are a
neo-pagan modern terminology for the Irish Ogham alphabet. Ogham is
thought to be named after the Irish god Ogma. One theory of its origins
is that it evolved out of a system of tallies used for accounting. Ogham
is also known as or ogham craobh, beth luis fearn or
beth luis nion. As you can plainly see, the Ogham is not a
runic system per se.
Cirth Runes?
Cirth runes are the
creation from the imagination of J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien created many
languages throughout his life who wrote in one of his letters that the
tales of Middle-earth (The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The
Silmarilion) grew from these languages, rather than the languages being
created for use in the stories. Tolkien also created a number of
different alphabet to write his languages - he modelled Cirth on
Anglo-Saxon and Norse Runes. Its function in his stories is for
inscriptions in wood and stone, just as Runes were used in the real
world.
J.R.R. Tolkien
Bindrunes
The
earliest runic inscriptions contained ligature runes or bind runes that
is two or possibly three runes on either side of a shared vertical
stave. The aim of such writing practice is generally believed to save
effort and space. The same custom is found all over Europe, and in
Denmark is so known for example also in our oldest inscriptions in Roman
letterings, where letters are both joined together and place inside each
other.
 If
the Younger Futhorc runes
 A
and
 R
were written together the ligature
rune
 is created;
to show this in transliteration, we place an arc over it, thus
ar
The
most prolific examples of runic ligatures can be found on medieval
gravestones from FØvling
(north Jutland). Bind runes usually reflect desire to save labour and
space, so in a nutshell, all this modern fanciful bind runes found on
the internet and elsewhere is in my researched opinion, a very modern
made up tradition based on personal gnosis and is not historical at all.
Another possibility is that bindrunes were created to test the mettle of
those who would dare try to break the runic cipher. It may also be a
boast on the part of the rune carver to show off his ability and
competence prompted by a challenging desire to make the rune message
much harder, thus concealing its secret?
The
FØvling Stone, North Jutland in spite of its shape was never a standing
rune stone but rather a flat trapezoid grave slab. Of note is the fact
that it has no spare end to stick in the ground and if it were set
upright, the cross would be upside down! the close interwoven bindrunes
and same stave runes have been influenced by the early majuscule
inscriptions of the 12th century, in which Roman capitals were carved
with letters ligatured and fitted inside each other.
p:
æsbirnik: langsum: kubaÞ in kristo: rekuiæscæns
P: (ræpositus
– or Presbyter, Pastor, Pater?) Æsbern(h)ic Langsum cubat in kristo
requiescens
P:
Esbern Langsom (the slow) here lies at rest in Christ
FØvling
Stone North Jutland
Same
stave runes (bind runes) as some runologist call them did not appear
until the Viking Age, therefore they were of the Younger Futhorc
variants:
My money is still on
the very basic concept of combining different ideographs rather then
literal modern English to Futhark runes (Younger Futhorc) alphabetical
translations. A sort of story telling wish on the part of the bind rune
carver.
Runic Rosary/Heathen Prayer
Beads?
Arguments have been
posted on the internet suggesting the existence or possibility of a
heathen "runic rosary" more popular coined by neo-pagans as "Brisingamen
Beads"? I am of the opinion that due to a lack of any archaeological
evidence, this is just a personal gnosis. I am not saying that heathens
did not pray, just not ancient Germanics with runic rosaries and in this
manner. Heathens did indeed pray as suggested by the Second Merseburg
Charm. This charm in Old High German which dates from around 750 CE and
runs as follows:
1. Once the Idisi
set forth, to this place and that;
Some fastened fetters; some hindered the horde,
Some loosed the bonds from the brave --
Leap forth from the fetters! Escape from the foes!
2.
Phol and Wodan rode into the woods,
There Balder's foal sprained its foot.
It was charmed by Sinthgunt, her sister Sunna;
It was charmed by Frija, her sister Volla;
It was charmed by Wodan, as he well knew how:
Bone-sprain, like blood-sprain,
Like limb-sprain:
Bone to bone; blood to blood;
Limb to limb -- like they were glued.
Ref: Merseburg
Incantations (Merseburger Zaubersprüche)
This charm is
amazingly similar to the Christianized charms used in the magical
healing traditions of German speaking regions, which persists to this
day as the Pow Wow healing magic of the Pennsylvania Dutch country. Such
charms are not made up on the spot: an old charm, passed down through
the generations, is considered most powerful.
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